FOCUS ON: Coal

Coal is an important energy source. Coal fired power plants supply 30% of our electricity, second only to natural gas. But burning coal for electricity emits large quantities of dangerous air pollution, posing grave risks to human health.

Coal combustion emits large quantities of carbon dioxide. It is one of the most important drivers of global climate change. Relative to other energy sources, coal is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide.

The mercury that contaminates our fresh- and saltwater fish populations comes largely from coal-fired power plants. Mercury can harm brain development and is particularly risky for pregnant women and children.

Burning coal for energy emits fine particle pollution, or soot, which has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, and increases in death rates, hospital admissions, and infant mortality.

We need to make our power plants cleaner; the technology exists to sharply curtail dangerous air emissions from coal plants. We also need to shift to renewable energy sources that help us protect the health and future of our children.

This post is written by Rev. Dr. Ambrose Carroll, Green the Church Co-Founder. It first appeared in Successful Black Parenting (used with permission): Today, being Black in America is dangerous. My wife and I don’t want our children to worry about their survival. We want them to run,...

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